Device for improving the sound effect of violins and like instruments



March 12, 1929. P. MOUSSONG ET AL 1,704,708

DEVICE FOR IMPROVING THE SOUND EFFECT OF VIOLINS AND LIKE INSTRUIENTS Filed March 19, 1924 E WWW/0 Fig. 3.

PAUL Mal/5301M 4;

m My, mm,

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,704,708 PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL MOUSSONG AND ANDREW MOUSSONG, OF IB'D'DI-UPIZIS'l HUNGARY, ASSIGNORS TO LADISLAUS TURNAI, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR IMPROVING THE SOUND EFFECT OF VIOLINS AND LIKE INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed March 19, 1924, Serial No. 700,265, and in Hungary July 17, 1923.

This invention relates to violins and other musical instruments of a kindred type and has for its main object to provide a simple device, applicable to any violin and like musical instrument with a very small constructive alteration and without impairing or even greatly changing the outward appearance of the same, which nevertheless will greatly improve the tone and tune qualitics of any violin. Our invention, accordi g to the ex]'ierience we and others had with the same, will not only improve the quality of faulty or bad violins but also of those of an inferior make so that they will produce acoustic effects similar to those of old master violins and our invention when applied to such old master violins, will improve even those.

Another object of our invention is to produce a device of tle characteristics mentioned hereinbeiiore which will be simple in construction, easily applied to violins of standard make, and inexpensive to manufacture, so that violins with our tone improving invention applied to them may be turned out in great quantities, by standard manufacturing methods, and with a practically negligible increase in the cost of making them.

WVith the above and other objects in view, our invention mainly consists in using the air space between the sound board (belly of the violin) and the finger board of the same for a resonance or sound-base, thus compelling this heretofore entirely unexploited airspace to cooperate in the creation of sounds by the violin, reinforcing a weak, decrepit, faulty violin, making the sounds of such violins more voluminous and eliminating their possible na ity. To obtain such 9. resonance base in id air space, we use a few sun-- ple elements only, and each of these will not only hclpin cooperatioi': with the others and with said air space to bring into play, to produce. to strengthen and to enhance in effect. the sound of said air space, but will contribute towards such beneficial results by their own work also and by the work caused by each of them in each of the other ones.

The main elements of our new resonance base are as follows:

Firstly the finger board and a portion of the belly of the violin itself.

Underneath the finger board and preferably near to the overhanging free end of the same, we apply an opening cut into the belly and for practical reasons having the form of a triangle or being of a heart shape.

To increase the oil ict of this acoustic opening. we may place a tongue therein lengthwise of the same and in the center axis of the sound board of the violin, preferably being connected to the base of the triangle or the heart shape at its end turned towards and in the direction of the free end of the keyboard of the violin.

Alongside of the linger board, and at both sides of the same, we further employ two thin walls, resting on the sound board of the instrument.

Finally, the effect of our device may be still increased by a thin supporting lateral wall or foot, applied underneath the free end of the linger board, resting on the sound board, and being provided with a relatively large opening or aperture through which the air-, or resonanc-e chamber underneath the finger board communicates with the outside air.

Referring now to the drawings, forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a violin, showing our device applied thereon,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, the section being takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, while Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Our invention uses the air space 3 between the sound board 1 and the free end of the finger board 2 for developing it into a sound increasing and resonance base or space. To arrive to this purpose, we cut an aperture 4 into the sound board 1 underneath the finger board 2 and well towards the free end of the same, and the air within the body of the violin will be connected with said air space 3 through said aperture and may undulate between the walls 1 and 2.

The sound-aperture i may be out in the form of an equilateral triangle the base of which lies underneath the free end of the finger board 2, the corners of which may be rounded oil, or the triangle may be made even more similar to a heart shape.

To increase the efl'ectiveness of our device, we further provide in the longitudinal center axis of said aperture 4 a tongue 5, one end of which is connected or secured to the base of said trian le or heart shape, while the other end of the tongue is left free.

The sound-strengthening influence of the air chamber 3 the violin is further increased by shutting the same in between the side walls 6, being fixed alongside of the free portion of the finger board 2 and resting; on sound board 1. Side walls 6' preferably are made of thin wooden plates, like veneer, glued to the key board 2 and sound board 1.

The walls 6 preferably extend all the projecting part of the linger board, they may however be restri' tea or limited to that part of the violin closest t the free end of the violin head.

Finally, may be beneficial to also fix or secure the foot 7, mentioned hereinbefore, underneath and on the end. of the linger board and have it rest on the sound board 1. The foot 7 is also iii-ado of thin wooden i l or veneer, is glued to the front ends oi the finger board and ot't side I respectively, and preiera i cut ti'ie companitively large opening 8 0 the some so to permit the --ir in vchainb 3 to coinn'iunicate with the outside atmosphere.

Our device may be applied to violins of different makes and sizes, as well as on violins,

Violas, violince los, bass-viols and so on, and will improve the sound oi an one of them.

We also want it to be understood that suitable general chances may be made in the sound improving device violins, the subject matter of the present invention, without departitng from the scope and spirt thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim as new, is

1. In a violin, in connection with the v' body, two side walls fixed alongside he projecting portion of the finger-board and t ing on the belly of the violin, hereby forn'iin an air chamber below said linger board belly having an opening therein with a base at one end and pointed at the other 0 inunicating with aforesaid air-chamber a disposed with its point towards the neck *l' e violin, and a tongue leift of the material of the belly extending from the base of opening to a distance in its longitudii 1 7-, center axis.

2. In a violin, in connection with the violin body, two side walls fixed alongside of the pro ice-ting portion of the linger-board and resting on the belly of the violin, thereby produccozninunicat rye moo ing an air-chamber below said fingerboard, said belly having an opening therein with a wide base at one end and pointed at the other with aforesaid air-chamber and disposed with its point towards the neck of the violin, a tongue left of the material of the belly ex iding in the longitudinal center axis of aforesaid opening from its base towards its po'nt, and a foot wall with an opening therein secured to the lower end of the linger board and sidewalls al resting on the belly of the violin.

3, In a violin, hav ng the usual space be tween its linger board and belly, sidewalls resting on the belly of the violin and enclosing said air space, said belly having an opening therein with a wide base at one end and pointed at the other within aforesaid air s ace, the point of said opening being disposed towards the neck of the violin and said opening being provided with a toi left the material of the belly e tending fl cm the base of openi w F. be a distance in its ing longitudinal center a auxin) 1:. la violin oi. usual inalte, having a fingerboard, a belly board, and a main resonance box underneath the belly board; a second resonance box, comprising the projecting end of the iingerboard, the portion of the bely board th sender, and thin walls to enclose the space between the two, said belly board portion and aid walls, respectively, having openings to provide for cor iunication from said second resonance box both, to the main resonance boa: of ti .e violin and to the outside. 5. in a violin as set forth in claim 4-, the communication between said two resonance boxes being tln'ough an opening in the belly board the violin, tongue like on i 'iadinal axis one being left free to vibrate 6. in iviolin set forth in claim 4:, said nclndino' a foot wall placed under the of the finger board crosswise in arms of the violin, the coininunica- -"w"en said second resonance box and 1 de being through opening proaid wal 

